The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-03
WILL KEEP THEIR PROMISES
Again the Public Is Assured that 1t Will
Be Supplied with Natural Gas.
What Officers of the Indianapolis Company
Say About Their Preparations for Piping
a Portion of the City Before Winter.

The probability OF natural gas being brought
into Indianapolis this year is not altogether lost
if the companies that have the nucleus for future
supply decide that they have enough to warrant
immediate investment in pipe lines As yet
none of them have accepted the terms of the
natural-gas ordinance, but it may be that this is
due to uncertainty of resources outside of the
Noblesville region The Capital City
people say plumply that it is no use
for them to consider piping as
fixed fact until they get
wells They are taking of their Smart
farm discovery and so far that is all they have
to count on until the two wells that are being
drilled show what they are worth. "If we get
5000, 900 feet per day. said a member of the
company, I'VE will at once begin the practical
work of piping to the city. We can get the
money just as the gas supply is large
enough to warrant us in m akng that outlay. If
we get 5000, 900 feet know then that we can
have 10000, 600 and more from our
field. The limited supply We could
give to the city would bring in considerable
revenue, and that we would use in drilling more
wells and developing our resources. In about
two weeks will know how far we can go this
year, far as piping is concerned. We do not
want to take any active steps in that direction
until we of being able to carry gas to at
least portion of the city. We cannot do even
that, you know. with one WELL"
Could the Indianapolis company ind profit In
piping now from its three wellss'
.'If it has 1000, 900 feet daily, yes. That
ought to bring them about $500 per day. Surely
that sum is a sufficient inducement for the COM
pany to undertake piping. In the meantime 1T
could drill more wells and constantly increase
it's supply. Had that much gas we would
be laying pipes" This gentleman, when asked
what he thought of the supplemental natural
ordinance allowing any company to charge
80 per cent. above schedule rates if it had pipes
in the city and supplying consumers
by Jan. ], 1888. was inclined to evade the ques-
ton. He had heard of the ordinance. but did
not think it would prove incentive to any
company to hasten laying pipe lines unless it had
the supply all ready and was sincere IL its pur-
pose of bringing gas TO the city before the close
of the year. "Of course we have considered the
piping project as that must necessarily be our
ultimate object" he continued. but unless we
get sufficient supply for that purpose. this sup
Elemental ordinance can be of no interest to u.s.
We hope to have the gas. and hope to accom-
plish what the people want before January, but
nothing definite can be promised on that point
just now. Wait until our other wells come in
two weeks hence, and may be able to tell you
what will do"
The Indianapols Company is now controlled
by executive committee consisting of Vice
presinent Branbam. who is acting president,
George r. Root the secretary, and Allen Nj.
Fletcher the treasurer These gentlemen. 1t is
said have the absolute management OF the com
pany's operations. IF they are not sufficient"
show the honesty of our purpose In getting gas
city possible. / do not know
what more the public can request The company
has all the money at command needed for piping.
and to show you that this object has not lacked
for attention, can point to the estimates we
have been receiving on the pipe and other ma
terial The executive committee has gone so far
into this business that IL is ready to make con-
tracts for the pipe required.
But when will the city have gas from your
ieldslr
Before the fall ends Now don't understand
me promising impossible things There Will
be natural gas here in limited quantity this year
A portion of the city will be supplied, but if
every expects to get it at once from us or
any other company, some body must be disap
pointed. IL would be impossi BILE TO carry IL to
All, and at time has any company contem-
plated doing more at first than to supply Dor
ton of the city. To perfect the system would
require the laying of 150 miles of pipe, and 1t is
folly to think that this work be accomplished
within six months. It will require two years.
and then if all who desire gas are able to get it
they will be doing well. The Standard Oil
Company cannot do any better than that"
do you think tho Standard Company will
Lay its pipes here2"
when it Is ready to do SO it WILL 1t is all
non sense to talk about or any other corpora-
ton keeping the Standard people out When
they want to come into q place they always ac-
onl,slish it. While our company has ceased to
be prospecting company and Is one having the
certainty of gas supply, it may be that the
region below Noblesyille, whore We have been
drilling, will not furnish our principal resources
1t is possible will have to GO to Nobesville.
where we have a lease of several thousand acres
Between Cumberland and Greenfield we also
have 9th er leases which will be developed. |
think tina the pipeline supply will come ultim
ately FROM Nob.esville aud Greenfield"
The Ind annapolis Company expects to com
plete it's wells mile and half from New Brit
ain and two, and half miles from Fishers Sta
ton by Wednesday next. It has confidence in
this drilling proving successful as the other
three wells, which together. one of the executive
committee says. weld G, 000. 600 feet daily and
not 1000 600. Prospecting about the city has
ceased, the Twelfth street company having
a bandoned its experiments for the time. The
we'll on Prospect street yielded only salt water.
At Greenfield several indianapolis gentlemen
are boring in the vicinity of the well at that
place, which has capacity. it is said OF 5,0O0,-
900 feet and is waiting TO be utilized in pipe
line by the company engaged on the second well,
if that proves successful
The NobI eeville Gas Field.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
xuiu mil al fho